Transfer Articulation: English

English forms the cornerstone of the humanities. In a variety of courses in literature, writing, and the English language, students find a source of personal enrichment, and they develop verbal, analytical, and cultural skills readily adaptable to a variety of careers. Students in English may elect any of several degree options. Students may choose the Bachelor of Arts leading to a major in English and an emphasis in writing (technical and professional or creative). They may also elect a major in English and take coursework leading to teaching certification in English, Language Arts, and Reading. In addition English offers an interdisciplinary minor in American Studies.

Our department offers students a number of extracurricular activities. Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, invites junior and senior English majors to become members of this prestigious national organization, with membership in the society recorded on each student's transcript. The Sam Houston State Review, a literary magazine staffed by SHSU students who work closely with a faculty advisor, provides opportunities for all SHSU students to publish their writing. The Texas Review is a nationally recognized literary magazine published twice a year, and Texas Review Press publishes some twenty books annually. Student-exchange programs and other study-abroad options are offered. English also has a number of scholarships available for qualifying undergraduates.

English Major 

The English major requires a total of 36 hours of English coursework. All general degree requirements including a minor must also be met. ENGL 1301 and 1302 may not be used to meet the 36-hour major requirement.

English Certification Major

A student pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree may obtain teaching certification by completing our English certification and the required coursework in professional education (CISE).

Transfer courses specific to the university major that you have selected appear in the section above. Transfer students are encouraged to maximize transfer courses required for their major as described above in addition to core courses at the transfer institution. Most university majors were meant to be taken over a 4 year period. Completion of freshman and sophomore level courses in the major with appropriate core courses helps transfer students to graduate in the minimum amount of time at minimum cost. 

As a final note, transfer students completing "residence requirements" at state supported Texas colleges are typically eligible to receive the associate degree by a process known as "reverse transfer" after having accumulated 60 (to 62) or more combined college transfer and SHSU hours. Reverse transfer allows students to count SHSU courses to the bachelor degree as well as apply the hours to the associate degree. The residency requirement for most colleges is 15 to 16 hours with a few colleges requiring 24 hours. SHSU enthusiastically supports associate degrees via reverse transfer with all state supported colleges

In general, Bachelor of Arts degrees have a foreign language requirement. Most Bachelor of Science degrees require additional mathematics and lab science requirements. Refer to the university catalog under which you plan to file for graduation for your specific degree requirements.

Most degrees require a minimum of 120 hours with 42 advanced hours (3000-level and 4000-level courses); however, some degrees require additional hours. All students are required to complete at least six writing-enhanced courses accumulating a minimum of 18 semester hours towards degree completion. Six of the hours must come from the student’s major field of study. SHSU students who have accumulated more than 60 hours may be blocked from enrolling in upper division courses until they have completed their math, English composition, and 4 to 8 hours of lab science.

In general, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires 8 hours of lab science and the Bachelor of Science degree requires 16 hours of lab science. Many majors require specific math and science courses from the core to apply for graduation. Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts degree should consult their major department web page or catalog for foreign language requirements. Many colleges including Business and Education have additional prerequisites for registration in upper-level (junior/senior) classes, including GPA restrictions and completion of lower-level (freshman/sophomore) course work.

In general,it is not advantageous for the transfer students to simply take courses that transfer. The most desirable goal is typically to only select courses from the core and major lower-level (first two university years), which not only transfer but satisfy degree requirements for graduation in the major to which you aspire.

Students are encouraged to select the university catalog offering them the most advantages with respect to degree completion. The respective university and/or college catalog selected for graduation determines final degree requirements.

The Core Curriculum at Sam Houston State University (to be used by all incoming students as of fall 2014) contains 42 semester credit hours, encompassing nine component areas. Each component area has a minimum credit hour requirement and a selection of specific courses that may be used to satisfy the requirement. The Core Curriculum details Sam Houston State University courses and their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) equivalents for college transfer students which comprise SHSU’s core curriculum.

Many SHSU disciplines including the sciences, business, and education require specific courses from the SHSU core as degree specific graduation requirements. To minimize cost and time to complete degree requirements always select SHSU/transfer core courses specified as degree requirements in your intended major.  If you have not decided on a major, select core courses supporting your intended area of academic concentration.

Prior to enrolling in core classes, students are encouraged to review specific degree requirements for their major. Selection of major-specified core courses reduces the total number of hours required for graduation.

If you do not see a Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) mapping a specific core course to your transfer institution, please go to Transfer Course Equivalency Guide and select your institution from the drop-down menu. The result will list all currently mapped transfer courses from your institution to SHSU courses.